Just when he was starting to put up numbers like he used to, Ahmad Bradshaw is dealing with a foot injury like he used to.

Bradshaw did not practice Wednesday but Tom Coughlin sounded optimistic that he would work Thursday. Coughlin also said he wanted to avoid going back to the once-a-week program Bradshaw was on in some recent seasons when he played with stress fractures in his feet.

"We're hoping this is something he is able to overcome," Coughlin said.

Bradshaw is coming off the most productive two-game stretch of his career with 316 yards rushing -- 200 against the Browns and 116 against the 49ers. He's also coming off the most active two games of his career, having carried the ball 58 times during that span. Coughlin said that was not "too much" for him, but conceded that might have something to do with Bradshaw's current pain.

"He certainly wasn't sitting around Sunday afternoon with his foot up," Coughlin said. "He definitely has played well, played hard, gotten the ball a number of times, and we'd like to think he can keep on doing that."

If he can't, the Giants will have Andre Brown back. Brown, who missed the last two games with a concussion, said he's aware of how Bradshaw had to work solo during his absence. "You can't help but notice it," he said.

Still, Brown wouldn't mind some scraps if the Giants run the ball with the same frequency against the Redskins. He and rookie David Wilson split reps with the first unit in Bradshaw's stead Wednesday.

"If we're rushing the ball good and they want to run the ball 40 times, I hope I get 20," Brown said. "However they divide up the carries. And you know what coach said: 'Whoever's having the hot hand.' If they want to let Ahmad go, let him. I'm still a team player first."

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